WBCA 2022: Boyup Brook win the T20 grand final against Forestry with batting prowess

Boyup Brook secured the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association T20 grand final win against Foresty in what was a clinical run chase with three balls to spare at the weekend.

Forestry skipper Brock Tempra won the toss and elected to bat.

Daniel Ward (39 off 21) got the home side off to a flyer, smashing three sixes in the first five overs.

Forestry were cruising, making the most of the hard new ball, and scored 53 in the first six overs.

This brought on a change in the bowling, with young off-spinner Declan Holland coming into the attack.

Holland had an impact instantly as he clean-ripped Ward in just his first over, a much-needed wicket at the time.

Holland struck again instantly, making it two in two balls and all of a sudden the game was on even terms.

Boyup Brook then tore the game open, taking another two quick wickets.

In 21 balls they destroyed Forestry’s middle order, taking four wickets for just eight runs.

Duncan Wells (38 from 46) was again a mainstay with bat in hand, but struggled to get much strike with carnage happening at the other end.

Wells continued to knuckle down and work the strike, which freed Connor Ipsen to work some batting magic.

With the game ebbing and flowing Ipsen swung the momentum back, smashing 48 runs from 23 balls, with six fours and two sixes.

Ipsen boosted the score up to a very competitive 163 runs, after the 20 overs were completed.

With a high target set, Boyup Brook were in for a real challenge.

Tristan Mead hit the first ball for six, which instantly gave Boyup Brook some positive hope.

Forestry worked really hard early with ball in hand, and had the game well in control.

Ipsen was just as good with the ball as he was with the bat, ending up with 1-14 from four overs, while Braden Gibellini also took one.

With Boyup Brook losing the wicket of Josh Miller (14 from 26) the game swung in the home side’s favour.

At 2-51 from 10 overs, needing more than 11 an over for victory, Mead showed no signs of panic.

Mead absolutely took to the Forestry bowlers, showing why he has been such a dominant force across his career and blasting 90 not out from just 52 balls.

Mead’s innings included seven fours and six sixes.

Mead was well supported by captain Braydon Ridley, who also smashed the ball to all parts, ending up with 52 not out from 27 balls.

Boyup Brook needed eight runs from the last over, with Mead finishing it in style with a six straight over cow corner, with a mere three balls to spare, making the game one for the ages.

Ridley said he was really proud of the boys for the win that “felt really good”.

“I’m really proud of the boys,” he said. “It was a good campaign for us to build on for next year.

“Super super proud, it was a really great effort for the young boys to join in as well.”

Ridley said he hoped the win would build some momentum for the rest of the 45-overs season next year.

“Looking at the boys, the boys loved it,” he said. “It was a great little competition, for three weeks it’s great to have something a little different.

“Hopefully it will get some confidence behind the boys.

“We’re a young group so hopefully for next year we can build on this and go above and beyond.”

Ridley said he attributes the team’s success to their energy.

“We brought the energy, everyone was contributing, and basically everyone just having some fun.”

WBCA president Jodi Johnston said she congratulated Boyup Brook as the T20 champions for 2022-23 season and thanked all players and umpires for supporting the re-introduction of the T20 format into the competition this season.

“It’s been great to see some new players in the comp and give some teams confidence with the T20 format,” she said.

“Players seemed to have enjoyed it, it’s an entertaining format to watch and hopefully with the success of the T20 being included in the overall points, it will continue to encourage more people to be involved in cricket.”